Refrigerating apparatus



Get. 114 2 L511 1,453

H. c. FOLGER REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov; so; 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 14., 1954.

H. C. FOLGER REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 30. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a"? "a a 149 w/ae 45 ATTORNEY.

Oct. M, 5924.

H. C. FOLGER REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 50. 1923 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

UNJITED'STATES PATENT orrics.

HENRY C. FOLGER, OF 'WAVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HOUSING COM- PANY, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 30, 1923. Serial No. 677,851.

To wZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. FOLGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waverly, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a-specification.

The invention to'be hereinafter described relates to apparatus for refrigerating icecream and other materials.

Heretofore it has been customery to deliver ice-cream to customers by means of trucks. Different methods have been employed for refrigerating the ice-cream while on the trucks. In one method the ice-cream cans are placed in tubs packed with ice and salt, and in another method the truck is pro-' vided with a body having a chamber in which are mounted a tank and piping containing a brine solution of ice and salt for cooling the chamber inwhich the ice-cream containing cans are placed. This piping is usually mounted near the top of the chamber, leaving a space beneath the same for receiving the ice-cream cans. The latter are introduced into the truck body and removed therefrom through a door of substantial size. The consequence is that each time the door is opened to allow transfer of an icecream can to a customers cabinet, the warm outside air rushes into the body and objectionably raises the temperature therein. The cooling apparatus is heavy, and objectionably adds to the weight of the truck and the expense of transportation. After the cans are transferred from the truck body into a customers cabinet, it is necessary to pack ice and salt around the cans in order to keep the cans cool in the cabinet. This has made it necessary to provide the truck body with compartments containing ice and salt, respectively. Considerable time is taken up by the work of packing the ice-cream cans with ice and salt. 1

Both of the aforesaid methodsof refrigeration require a large amount of ice and salt,-

objectionably adding to the expense of refrigerat' n. t v

The present invention is a distinct improvement upon the former methods. In carrying the present invention into practical eflect, containers or cartridges are nearly filled with a liquid which freezes at a tem- I perature substantially below 32 F. This supplied with the appropriate'solution, are

closed and preferably sealed, and are placed in a room or chamber having a temperature sutficiently low to freeze the solution.

Then the cartridges containing the frozen solution may be transferred from the chamber into a box or body which may be mounted on a truck, car or other vehicle.

An important feature of the invention is the construction of this box whereby the cartridges may eiiiciently serve torefrigerate the ice-cream in the cans, or other materials. To accomplish this, the body is provided with cells for receiving the ice-cream containing cans or other materials, and chambers for receiving the cartridges. The cells project into the chambers receiving the cartridges, and are so related thereto that the air cooled by the cartridges may circulate around the cells and effectively cool the same. However, the cells and the chambers do not communicate with one another, and are so separated that when ice-cream cans or other materials are taken from the cells, the chambers containing the cartridges will not be exposed to the outside air, and when the cartridges are taken from the chambers, the cells containing the ice-cream cans will not be exposed to the outside air.

Each of the cells and each of the chambers may be provided with a cover which preferably is located at the top thereof, so that when the cover is opened, the warm outside air will not tend to pass downward into the cell or chamber and raise the temperature thereof. This is an important feature in contributing to the maintenance of the cold condition in the cells and chambers.

In view of the fact that a number of cells and chambers are preferably employed, when the cover of one of the cells is opened to remove the ice-cream containin cans or materials therefrom, the other eel s are not exposed to the warm outside air, and when the cover of one of the chambers is opened for the purpose of removing cartridges therefrom, the other cartridge containing chambers are not exposed to the warm outside air. This further contributes to maintenance of the cold condition in'the cells and chambers.

Another important feature of the invention is the adaptation of the cartridges for use both in refrigerating the materials while on the truck and after the materials have been delivered to customers. For example, when an ice-cream containing can is removed from one of the cells, and delivered to a customer, one or more of the cartridges is removed from one of the chambers and also .delivered to the customer, in order that the cartridge or cartridgesmay accompany the ice-cream containing can and continue refrigeration thereof. To accomplish the latter function, the customer may be provided with a specially constructed cabinet adapted to receive the ice-cream containing can and a cartridge o-r cartridges in proximate relation, so that the cartridges may properly refrigerate the ice-cream 1n the can.

The cabinet is the subject of my copending application Serial No. 677,852, filed November 30, 1923, and therefore, it is not shown and described herein. The method of refrigeration employing the truck and the cabinet is the subject of my copending application Serial No. 679,061, filed December 7, 1923.

The character of the invention may be best'understood by reference to the following description of one good form thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one good 1 form of the truck embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the body of the truck; v

Fig. '3 is, a vertical longitudinal sectiontaken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

v Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 4-4 of=Fig. 2

Fig. 5 on an enlarged scale is a perspective View of a top portion of the truck body showing the construction of the top of the body and the covers;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of.one of the cartridges; I

Fig. 7 on an enlarged scale is a side elevation of one of the ice-cream cans; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through one of the cartridges- Referring to the drawings, in the present instance of the invention, the vehicle for transporting the refrigerating materials is in the form of a truck provided with a box "or body 1 having a bottom 3. a front wall 5, a. rear wall 7 and side walls 9. These walls may be formed. of balsa wood or other suitable material lined with layers 11 of cork or other suitable insulation material which will be effective in tending to keep the warm outside air from entering the interior of the box.

Mounted in-the box are a bottom frame 13, a top frame 15 and front and rear frames 17 and 19. The bottom frame 13 has transverse members 21 spaced at intervals, and the top frame has transversemembers layers 31 of wood or other suitable material between which is a layer 33 of cork or other suitable material, said layers being secured in assembled relation by any suitable means. At opposed edges of each of these partitions 29 are members 35 provided with grooves adapted to mate with the tongues 27 referred to, in the upright members 25.

The partitions 29 divide the box into compartmentsmxtending the width of the box. Projecting into each of the compartments are a pair of cells 37 formed of sheet metal, a

and in the present instance, having the capacity to receive two five-gallon ice-cream cans, one on top of the other. At the upper end of each of the cells is a collar 39 (Fig. 5) having outstanding flanges 41 over: lapping the upper surface of the top of the box and suitably secured thereto. These flanges preferably are ribbed, for'a purpose to be described.

of the box and are spaced apart so as to leave in each compartment a chamber 43 adapted to receive the cartridges to be described. The cells are. spaced from the walls of the compartments, in order that air may circulate from the cartridge receiving chambers around the cells.

In the present instance of the invention,

the box is divided into five compartments, and each of the compartments contains two cells for receivingice-cream cans or other materials. and an intermediate chamber for receiving the refrigerating cartridges) As a result, the cartridges in each compartment will serve to refrigerate the materials in the two cells of said compartment. 1

'The cells and cham bers may be provided with covers 45, each having a \body 47 (Fig.

5D) and an outstanding flange 49, the latter being provided on the inner faoe thereof with a packing 51 (Fig. 1),;in the present instance, in the form of a rubber tube 53 stuffed with cotton 55. When the cover is closed, this packing is adapted to engage the ribbed flanges 41 of the collar 49 referred to, so as, to insure tight closure of the cover.

The covers for the cells and chamber of thefront compartment may be provided with hinges 57 (Fig. 1) secured to the covers The cells 37 are located at opposite sides- 'The covers for the two compartments directly back of the front compartment may be connected by hinges 67 provided with latches 69 cooperating with bails 71 similar to those already described. The covers for the two rear compartments may be connected by hinges 73, and may be provided with latches 75. The latches 75 for the covers of the rear compartment cooperate with hannel members 77 secured to the box top, and the latches 75 for the covers of the compartment next to the rear compartment cooperate with the bails 71 adjacent thereto. Thus these bails serve to cooperate with the latches 69 and 75.

Projecting from the opposite sides of the box are chambers 79 (Fig. 1) having hinged covers 81 provided with latches 85, said chambers being adapted to: receive empty ice-cream cans. The covers 81 of these chambers may desirably serve as platforms on which the truck driver may stand to give him ready access to the top of the box, for the purpose of placing ice-cream cans into the cells and removing the same there from, and for the purpose of placing cartridges in the chambers and removing the same therefrom.

The ice-cream cans 85 (Fig. 7) may be of the usual cylindrical form, and as stated, the capacity of each cell may be sufficient to receive two five-gallon cans, one on top of the other. Since in the present instance there are ten of the cells in the truck box, it is adapted to carry twenty five-gallon icecream cans.

Preferably the cartridges containing the frozen liquid are of oblong form. Referring to Fig. 6, the cartridge 87 shown therein has opposed sides 91 which preferably are corrugated to furnish strength and to allow expansion and contraction under temperature changes. The cartridge has edges 93, a bottom 95 and a top 97, the latter being provided with a neck 99 normally closed by a screw plug 101. The cartridge may be formed of sheet metal. To contribute to the strength of the cartridge, the bottom, top and edges may be provided with a channel-shaped reinforcing band 103 having its flanges 105 inturned and overlapping the corrugated sides of the cartridge. The spaces between the flangesand the corrugations may be filled with solder or other suitable material which may be beveled away from the edges of the flanges to facilitate placing the cartridges in piles in the freezing room. After a cartridge has been nearly filled with the liquid to be frozen, the plug may be inserted in the neck, and may be soldered to the neck or otherwise permanently secured. The cartridge may be provided with a suitable handle 107.

at its top to facilitate handling thereof.

In the present instance of the invention, the capacity of each of the chambers 43 between the cells is sufficient to accommodate ten of the cartridges described. Five of the cartridges are fitted into the chamber and rest on the bottom of the box, and five more of the cartridges rest upon the same. Since the two cells of a compartment accommodate four ice-cream cans, the chamber between the cells will contain eight cartridges, two for each can, and two extra cartridges for a purpose to be described.

In use, the cartridges after being nearly filled with the liquid to be frozen, are placed in the room or chamber referred to, which has a temperature sufficiently low to freeze the liquid. After the liquid is frozen, the cartridges may be transferred from the room into the chambers of the truck, and icecream containing cans may be placed in the cells of the truck. Then the truck covers for the chambers and cells are closed, and

the truck is ready to start on its route to deliver ice-cream to customers. When the driver reaches a customer, he steps onto one of the platforms at the side of the box, opens the cover of one of the cells, removes an ice-cream can therefrom, and opens the cover of one of the chambers and removes two cartridges therefrom. Then he carries these to the customers cabinet and places the same therein.

Since each of the chambers is adapted to receive ten cartridges, there will be two cartri-dges available for refrigerating each ice cream can in the customers cabinet, and the two extra cartidges are available if required, for continuing refrigeration of an ice-cream can already in the cabinet.

Cans may be carried containing ice-cream of different flavors, and these may be placed in predetermined cells, so that the driver may know at once which cell to open to give him access to the can containing icecream of the particular flavor desired. This enables a saving in time over the previous methods.

Since the body has a number of cells for receiving the ice-cream cans or other materials tobe refrigerated, opening the cover of one of the cells will not expose the other cells to the warmer temperature of the outside air. Also, since the body has a number of chambers for receiving the refrigerating cartridges, opening the cover of one of the chambers for the purpose of removing oartridges therefrom, will not expose the other chambers to the warmer outside air.

In view of the fact that the covers for the cells and chambers are at the upper ends I when the cans and cartridges are removed from one of the compartments, the cartridges in the other compartments will not have the duty of refrigerating the emptied compartment.

By this invention the necessity for ice and salt is eliminated not only in the truck, but also in the customers cabinet. This results in an important saving in the cost of refrigeration.

The driver of the truck may quickly and easily transfer the ice-cream cans and the refrigerating cartridges from the truck to the cabinets of customers with no ice and salt to handle, and as a consequence the driver may cover his route in much shorter time than heretofore.

It will be understood that the inven tion is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and that various deviations may be-made therefrom without departin from the spirit and scope of the appende claims.

What I claim is:

1, Refrigeration apparatus comprising a vehicle body havin walls formed of wood and cork layers, s aid body having cells therein with open upper ends through which materials for refrigeration may be introduced into and removed from said cells, covers normally closing the uppenends .of said cells; said body having chambers therein with open upper ends through which closed cooling containers having a frozen liquid therein may be introduced into and removed from said chambers, and covers normally closing the upper-ends of said chambers, said cells being without communication with said chambers, but having an air circulation space exposed to the cooling chambers that the containers may cool the c 11s and the materials therein, the covers for the cells being separate from the covers for the chambers. J

2. Refrigeration apparatus comprising a vehicle body having heat insulation walls and heat insulation partitions dividing the body into compartments, each having cells for receiving materials for refrigeration and a chamber for receiving closed containers having a frozen liquid therein, said cells being without communication with said chamber, but having walls spaced from the walls of the compartment that air may circulate from the chamber around the cells and be cooled by the containers, and covers for the chambers and cells.

3. Refrigeration apparatus comprising a vehicle body having metal refrigerating cells therein for receiving materials for refrigeration, said cells being disposed in outer rows leaving chambers between said rows adapted to receive closed containers having a frozen liquid therein and adapted to cool the rows of cells at opposite sides of said chambers, said cells and chambers having open upper ends, covers for the cells and se arate covers for the chambers.

4. R frigeration apparatus comprising a body having partitions dividing the same into compartments, being formed of outside layers of w and an intermediate layer of cork, eachof sald compartments having a refrigerating chamber and a cooling chamber therein, said refrigerating chamber being adapted toreceive materials for refrigeration and said cooling chamber being adapted to recelye closed containers having a frozen liquid therein, the refrigerating chamber being Without communication with the cooling chamber, but havin walls exposed to the latter, that the refrrgerating chamber may be cooled by the containers-in the cooling chamber.

5. Refrigeration apparatus comprising a body having partitions dividing the same into compartments, each of said partitions being formed of outside layers and an intermediate layer of cork, metal cells in each of said compartments and spaced from the walls thereof that air may circulate around the cells, and each of said compartments having a chamber between the cells adapted to receive closed containers having a frozen liquid therein, each of said cells being adapted to receive materials for refrigeration, and said containers being adapted to refrigerate the cells and the materials therein.

6. Refrigeration apparatus comprising a body having rows of cells therein at opposite sides of the body adapted to receive maeach of said partitionsterials for refrigeration, and cooling chambers between the rows adapted to receive containers having a frozen liquid therein, covers for the individual cells, covers for the individual cooling chambers, and platforms at opposite sides of the body on which a person may stand to give him ready the body dividing the same into compartments, a pair of refrigerating cells in each of the compartments adapted to receive icecream containing cans, and each compartment having a chamber between the cells therein adapted to receive an assembly of frozen liquid containing cartridges for cooling ice-cream in the cans in the cells.

8. Refrigeration apparatus comprising a body having Walls of heat insulation material, cells therein with open upper ends through which materials for refrigeration may be introduced intoand removed from said cells, covers for the upper ends of the cells; said body having chambers therein with open upper ends through which closed cooling containers having a frozen liquid therein may be introduced into and removed from 'sald chambers, and covers for the upper ends of said chambers, the walls of .the cells being spaced from the walls of the body so that air cooled by the containers for said apertures adapted to be opened to.

permit materials for refrigeration to be in-- troduced lnto and removed from said cells;

said body having chambers therein between the cells having open upper ends through which containers having frozen liquid therein may be introduced into and removed from said chambers, and covers for the open ends of said chambers.

HENRY C. FOLGER. 

